In principle, there are useful tips for every room that make living safer and more comfortable. We have put together the options available to you so that you can decide for yourself what you are most likely to benefit from - because barrier-free living is not just for people who have limited mobility. Some of the tips are very practical even for parents of small children. But look for yourself.
Note: Those in need of care are often entitled to subsidies from care insurance companies. It's best to do some research to find out in which areas of the renovation you can make use of it and what sums you may be entitled to.
General solutions for the whole home
What does “barrier-free living” mean? It's about making it possible to live as independently as possible, despite various restrictions. For this purpose, risk factors can be eliminated and additional aids can be installed. It's no secret that the most common accidents happen in the home, as well as theSR 3 Saarlandwelle reports. Imagine what it's like when you're old or have a disability!
There are home upgrade options that are useful for every area of the home. This includes:
- Non-slip floor coverings
Tiles and laminate can be real slipping traps. But if you don't want to and can't replace all the floor coverings right away (which is impossible in the bathroom anyway), you can equip the sensitive areas with non-slip mats, carpets or even carpeting. Hallways, bathrooms, kitchens and stairs are particularly risky. Consider taping carpets to the floor, as they can quickly become tripping hazards if a corner sticks out. There are special rubber stickers for this that can be completely removed.
- Handles and handrails
These accessories prove to be very useful in various areas: on bathtubs, toilets and in showers, on stairs both indoors and outdoors, near the dining table to make getting up easier, and so on.
- Disturbing doorsteps
Some bathrooms are equipped with raised door thresholds and an additional drain in the floor inside so that water does not flow from the bathroom into the other rooms in the event of a pipe burst. But as you get older or have certain handicaps, this can be quite annoying. Consider removing such thresholds or at least lowering them sufficiently.
- Motion detector for sufficient light
Who doesn't know it: you just want to go to the toilet quickly at night and think that you don't need to turn on the light switch for the short trip. And then suddenly something gets in the way or you briefly lose your orientation... Sufficient light reduces the risk of stumbling or hitting yourself. It can therefore be extremely practical to equip walk-through rooms with motion detectors that switch on the lamps automatically, especially if the actual light switches are more difficult to reach (which is often the case in old houses). There are simple models that you plug into the socket or even those with batteries and charging.
Motion detectors are also very practical for children who cannot yet reach the light switch.
- In the case of wheelchairs
Sufficient space for turning, ramps for the outside stairs or elevators for the inside stairs make everyday life much easier. If necessary, the doors must be expanded and cabinets must be reduced in height or be height-adjustable. Here too, for barrier-free living, thresholds should be removed, handles installed and motion detectors installed.
The bathroom and toilet
The bathroom proves to be particularly risky for people whose mobility is limited, which is why barrier-free living in old age in this room should be a top priority. We have already mentioned handles that make getting up from the toilet or tub easier. But that's not all that's possible.
- Barrier-free showers
They are very useful for both wheelchairs and people with other physical limitations, provided they are large enough. They are ideallevel with the floor or have a minimal threshold, which is easy to climb.
An integrated seat is also recommended so that you don't have to stand while washing.
- Bathtubs with doors
Such models are ideal if you don’t have or don’t want a shower. These bathtubs have a small door in the side wall that can be opened so that you can enter the tub like a shower and then sit down comfortably. And if you don't want to invest in a new tub, you can also use the one you already haveHave it converted to be barrier-free. This conversion usually only takes a few hours and makes everyday life much easier.
Companies even offer the service of converting a bathtub into a shower or combining both into one. What is particularly noteworthy is that there are often grants from the cash register that finance the renovation.
No matter which option you choose, non-slip mats or at least flip flops are highly recommended to prevent accidents.
Barrier-free living in the kitchen and dining room
- Accessible worktops of a suitable height are very practical for people in wheelchairs.
- The upper cupboards are often difficult to reach for people with disabilities and also for older people. For such cases, there are height-adjustable cabinets that can be lowered if necessary.
- Cupboard doors and drawers, especially the larger and heavier ones, can be equipped with dampers. This reduces the risk of accidentally getting your fingers caught.
- A raised oven is practical so you don't have to bend down. Models with retractable doors prove to be very useful for wheelchair users. These disappear under the oven when opened and are therefore not a nuisance.
- Tables and chairs can be chosen to be height adjustable or at a height that makes it easier to sit down. Sometimes the seats are quite low and this makes it difficult to sit down and stand up (this also applies to toilets).
